KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA February 1, 2026 – Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim utilized the extended public holiday for Hari Wilayah Persekutuan and Thaipusam to personally experience and inspect the operations of the Electric Train Service (ETS3) operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) on the Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru route.
In a post shared on his official X account, Anwar described how he boarded the ETS3 train to travel from the capital to Johor Bahru. During the journey, he took the opportunity to interact directly with fellow passengers, greeting them and listening to their feedback on the service.
The Prime Minister noted that the responses he received were highly positive, particularly regarding the improved comfort levels, smoother travel experience, and overall organization of the service. He was seen in photos aboard the train, greeting passengers with traditional “salam” gestures, engaging in conversations, and posing for photos as commuters captured the moment on their phones.
“Alhamdulillah, respons yang diterima amat memberangsangkan, khususnya terkait tahap keselesaan serta pengalaman perjalanan yang lebih lancar dan tersusun,” Anwar wrote.
He reaffirmed the MADANI Government’s commitment to strengthening public services that are safe, efficient, and people-friendly, stating that such initiatives will remain a priority moving forward, Insya-Allah.
The ETS service on the Kuala Lumpur–Johor Bahru route, which became fully operational following the completion of the Gemas–Johor Bahru electrification and double-tracking project, has significantly reduced travel time to approximately four hours. This modern rail link has been praised for enhancing connectivity between the capital and southern Malaysia, supporting economic growth in Johor and facilitating easier travel for citizens.
Prime Minister Anwar’s hands-on approach and direct engagement with the public during this surprise ride underscore the government’s focus on listening to citizens’ experiences with key public infrastructure projects.
The journey also coincided with high travel demand periods, including recent festive seasons where KTMB has increased ETS frequencies and seats to accommodate passengers.
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